Cardis Picks a Board Member to Be President, Chief Executive

Cardis Corp., an automotive parts distributor, on Wednesday chose one of its board members, Kenneth C. Cleveland, as the company’s new president and chief executive.

Cleveland succeeds Kenneth D. Walker, who is leaving Cardis to become top executive at Parts Industries Corp., an automotive parts distributor based in Memphis, Tenn.

Cleveland is a director of Cardis and president of Kenneth Cleveland Associates Inc., a management consulting firm.

Cardis, which had $80.1 million in sales in 1991, has been struggling to regain profitability after emerging from bankruptcy reorganization in December, 1989. Cleveland said the company expects to show an operating profit for the fiscal year that ended April 30 but will report a net loss.

“Ken Walker has gotten this company out of trouble, and I hope to continue his strategy,” Cleveland said.

Cardis has 435 employees. It operates nine distribution centers and 20 automotive parts stores under the Car Quest name.